Cheapo Alignment Gauges? Anyone Using Them?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Cheapo Alignment Gauges? Anyone Using Them?
I've been considering purchasing wheel gauges for doing my own alignments. I see that for between $150 and $250 a guy can get a setup to do an alignment. Now, I actually did the alignment on my own car 2 years ago using machinists levels and gauge blocks, and some math. Thereafter, I took it to an alignment shop to have it checked. It was almost perfect, and I mean, not just within tolerance, but nearly every measurement dead on the mean.
The downside of that was, it took forever to get it that way. And doing caster adjustments is a nightmare. Camber and toe, they're childs play.
So, I'm figuring I need a new toy, I mean tool! I see some made in the USA for reasonable money. I looked on Ebay but could not find anything used, or old. I actually considered making one. But that isn't gonna happen cause I just don't want to spend the time.
Anybody here have any input on the tools? One thing I noticed is that the ones I saw, all rely on the floor as a reference. I'm accustomed to seeing the wheel rotate 180 and setting the center reference to that. But, these I see online all have you sit the tool on the floor and calibrate there. I'm not sure I'm thrilled about that. If the floor isn't perfect, that could be an issue I'd think.
The downside of that was, it took forever to get it that way. And doing caster adjustments is a nightmare. Camber and toe, they're childs play.
So, I'm figuring I need a new toy, I mean tool! I see some made in the USA for reasonable money. I looked on Ebay but could not find anything used, or old. I actually considered making one. But that isn't gonna happen cause I just don't want to spend the time.
Anybody here have any input on the tools? One thing I noticed is that the ones I saw, all rely on the floor as a reference. I'm accustomed to seeing the wheel rotate 180 and setting the center reference to that. But, these I see online all have you sit the tool on the floor and calibrate there. I'm not sure I'm thrilled about that. If the floor isn't perfect, that could be an issue I'd think.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
How do you take measurements of the caster with simple tools? Is there a technique with the Vette that makes it easier than other cars? Or are you saying that a laser level with angle finder is accurate enough to do the caster calculations?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
I used the Fastrax unit with the toe accessory for years with my T-Bucket and it served me well. Measured toe, camber and caster. I made a set of toe plates to help speed the process up. One day I dropped the tool, and put a slight bend in it and didn't trust it after that. $200 mishap.
That all being said, I think it would do an accurate job on the Vette but I don't know how well it would attach to my wheels (thin spokes) - there doesn't seem to be enough lip on the wheel for this tool to hold on to. I suppose you could hold the tool against the wheel for taking the measurements but that would require an assistant.
I take the Vette to an alignment specialist so I can get the total 4-wheel aligment done which is more difficult to accomplish at home (at least for me).
That all being said, I think it would do an accurate job on the Vette but I don't know how well it would attach to my wheels (thin spokes) - there doesn't seem to be enough lip on the wheel for this tool to hold on to. I suppose you could hold the tool against the wheel for taking the measurements but that would require an assistant.
I take the Vette to an alignment specialist so I can get the total 4-wheel aligment done which is more difficult to accomplish at home (at least for me).
Last edited by pickleseimer; Nov 16, 2012 at 08:27 PM. Reason: add-on
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I also have thin spokes, and if the tool was to grab from the inside, I'd be worried. But several of the tools I saw allow you the choice to grab the wheel from either inside the inner lip, or outside the rim. I think that's a must for most all cars nowadays, since so many come with pretty nice wheels, and nobody wants sharp points cutting into them.
I also looked at digital angle finders online tonight. I see that for around 30 or 40 bucks, I can get a unit that reads in .1 deg increments. That might be another option for me, rather than using a dedicated alignment tool. If it really comes down to needing a fixture to hold it, I can always make one. I just thought I'd be happier without adding that job to this.
The other thing I wonder about is, do I really need the little turntable gizmos for under the front wheels? Or are they just a nice luxury?
I don't doubt that getting the whole car (all 4 wheels) all squared up, isn't going to be easy for me either. I just don't trust any of the alignment shops around here. One already broke my fender jacking the car improperly while working on the tires.
I also looked at digital angle finders online tonight. I see that for around 30 or 40 bucks, I can get a unit that reads in .1 deg increments. That might be another option for me, rather than using a dedicated alignment tool. If it really comes down to needing a fixture to hold it, I can always make one. I just thought I'd be happier without adding that job to this.
The other thing I wonder about is, do I really need the little turntable gizmos for under the front wheels? Or are they just a nice luxury?
I don't doubt that getting the whole car (all 4 wheels) all squared up, isn't going to be easy for me either. I just don't trust any of the alignment shops around here. One already broke my fender jacking the car improperly while working on the tires.
Last edited by K-Spaz; Nov 16, 2012 at 10:20 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 333
From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
The turntable devices, called toe plates I think, allow you to turn the front wheels left or right in place without putting stress on the steering and reduces drag of the turning wheel so it settles nicely in place. Also allows the wheels and suspension to settle in a natural state (instead of rolling the car back and forth) if you raise the front end to make adjustments.
I made mine from two pieces of smooth floor tile (1 ft x 1 ft size) - take one tile, smear a good layer of grease (don't go wild here) on one side and then put the other tile on top of the grease, making a 'grease sandwich'. Do another so you have a set for the front wheels. Put these under the front wheels. The wheels will turn the tiles against each other with little stress or resistance and allow the suspension to settle. If using these on a 4-post lift, make sure the car doesn't slide off the side of the lift by clamping some 2x4s to the side of the lift LOL.
I made mine from two pieces of smooth floor tile (1 ft x 1 ft size) - take one tile, smear a good layer of grease (don't go wild here) on one side and then put the other tile on top of the grease, making a 'grease sandwich'. Do another so you have a set for the front wheels. Put these under the front wheels. The wheels will turn the tiles against each other with little stress or resistance and allow the suspension to settle. If using these on a 4-post lift, make sure the car doesn't slide off the side of the lift by clamping some 2x4s to the side of the lift LOL.
Race Director
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Sounds like way more work than I would want to do, I paid 159 to have mine done at Firestone and that includes free lifetime warranty, If it ever needs to be redone it is free. They have one of those newer machines with all the lazer lights on it.
Mr.Bill
Mr.Bill
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
pickleseimer,
That tile trick sounds much easier than what I was thinking. Thanks. I don't have a lift yet, so no worries on that account.
Mr Bill.
I have several vehicles that I mess around with from time to time, so while yes, the Vette could be done and out of my hair, I don't think I'd really mind spending the time. Well, not the decent tools anyway. I've got a pretty hefty amount of tools now, so a few more isn't gonna make much difference. Believe me, I understand your point about not wanting to do certain jobs on a car. Btdt. This somehow doesn't seem to bother me as much as some other stuff. Maybe because I can see myself getting good at it and doing it often, as I mess with suspension mods and such.
That tile trick sounds much easier than what I was thinking. Thanks. I don't have a lift yet, so no worries on that account.
Mr Bill.
I have several vehicles that I mess around with from time to time, so while yes, the Vette could be done and out of my hair, I don't think I'd really mind spending the time. Well, not the decent tools anyway. I've got a pretty hefty amount of tools now, so a few more isn't gonna make much difference. Believe me, I understand your point about not wanting to do certain jobs on a car. Btdt. This somehow doesn't seem to bother me as much as some other stuff. Maybe because I can see myself getting good at it and doing it often, as I mess with suspension mods and such.
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Michael S. Palmer
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From: South Dakota
I have been thinking about trying a set of the cheap alignment gages for setting the caster and camber too. For me it is simply that I want to spend some time and get it near perfect and to try different settings so I am wanting to know how well they work also. I also hate taking my cars for someone else to work on (too many bad things have happened)
For setting toe, I have been using the "string box" method for years. It works great and quite accurate.
Edit: Just saw another thread that others are using them too.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ry-or-not.html
For setting toe, I have been using the "string box" method for years. It works great and quite accurate.
Edit: Just saw another thread that others are using them too.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ry-or-not.html
Last edited by QCVette; Nov 17, 2012 at 01:45 PM. Reason: Added link to another thread.
